Farr Yacht Design
Encyclopedia
Bruce Farr
Bruce K. Farr OBE is a designer of racing and cruising yachts.Farr began building boats at 13 in Warkworth near Auckland,New Zealand.His first boats were plywood hard chine Moth class designs.He later designed and built variants of Cherubs and especially Flying 18s.His early designs were built in...
, is a racing yacht design team based in the United States. Its yachts measure from 25 to 125 feet (7.5 to 38 m). Farr develops custom and production yachts, including: interiors, sails, and hull design. Farr uses outside research and development with tank testing and wind tunnels.
Farr-designed yachts have won and placed well in a broad range of races.
The yachts designed by Bruce Farr are primarily light-displacement, fractional rig, wide sterned, shallow hulled yachts. Farr was one of the first designers to realise that the fastest yachts around, for their size, are skiffs. Many of his early designs were comparatively skiff-like in appearance, with shallow hulls, wide sterns and light displacement. The result is a quicker, faster hull than more traditional racing yacht designs. Over the years more and more designers have incorporated these ideas. The latest Volvo Open 70
Volvo Open 70
The Volvo Open 70 is the current class of racing yachts designed for the Volvo Ocean Race. It was first used in the 2005-2006 race and use a Canting keel which is capable of canting transversely up to an angle of 40 degrees.According to the VO70 rule, the yachts can be made...
class yachts are examples of this trend.
Farr Designed Boats
In addition to the Farr One Design yachts (table), Farr has designed a various yachts for Volvo Ocean RaceVolvo Ocean Race
The Volvo Ocean Race is a yacht race around the world, held every three years. It is named after its current owner, Volvo...
(and earlier Whitbread) teams under the Volvo Open 70
Volvo Open 70
The Volvo Open 70 is the current class of racing yachts designed for the Volvo Ocean Race. It was first used in the 2005-2006 race and use a Canting keel which is capable of canting transversely up to an angle of 40 degrees.According to the VO70 rule, the yachts can be made...
, Volvo Ocean 60
Volvo Ocean 60
The Whitbread 60 or Volvo Ocean 60 was the forerunner to the current class of racing designed for the Volvo Ocean Race, the Volvo Open 70....
and Whitbread 60 rule. Furthermore major yacht builders such as Bavaria Yachtbau
Bavaria Yachtbau
The Bavaria Yachtbau GmbH is a German major yacht builder, with its headquarters in Giebelstadt, Bavaria, Germany. The model range consists of both sailing and motor yachts, of which especially the sailing yachts are very common. With ca. 600 employees, ca...
and Beneteau
Beneteau
Beneteau is a French sail and motor boat manufacturer, with production facilities in France and the United States.-History:Shipwright Benjamin Beneteau founded his company in 1884, at Croix-de-Vie, France to build sailing trawlers. In the mid sixties Benjamin's grandchildren Annette Benneteau...
have commissioned Farr-designed yachts for their Cruiser and First lines respectively. Designs have been also made by Farr under the GP42 and TP 52 (yacht)
TP 52 (yacht)
The Transpac 52 is a class of yacht used for competitive yacht racing. The class is recognised by the International Sailing Federation which entitles the class to hold an Official World Championships.-History:...
rule and for racing based on IRC (sailing)
IRC (Sailing)
IRC is a system of handicapping sailboats and yachts for the purpose of racing. It is managed by the Royal Ocean Racing Club in the United Kingdom through their dedicated Rating Office....
, International Measurement System rating. Other notable design include (super) Maxi's and America's Cup
America's Cup
The America’s Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America's Cup match races between two yachts. One yacht, known as the defender, represents the yacht club that currently holds the America's Cup and the second yacht, known as the challenger, represents the yacht club that is challenging...
yachts (for Team BMW Oracle Racing
BMW Oracle Racing
Oracle Racing is an American sailboat racing syndicate initially formed to compete for the 2003 America’s Cup. They competed again in the 2007 event before winning the 33rd America's Cup regatta in 2010 - representing the Golden Gate Yacht Club....
(2007, 2003), Young America (2000) Tag Heuer (1995), New Zealand (1992, 1988, 1987))
| Design | PHRF |
|---|---|
| Farr 10/20 ODR | 108 |
| Farr 12-20 | 81 |
| Farr 30½ ton | 156 |
| Mumm 30 (after 2007 Farr 30 (yacht) Farr 30 (yacht) The Farr 30 / Mumm 30 was designed by Farr Yacht Design led by Bruce Farr the first boat was built by Carrol Marine and first launched in 1995. The class is recognised by the International Sailing Federation.-History:... ) |
54 |
| Farr 33 | 102 |
| Farr 36 | 96 |
| Mumm 36 | 42 |
| Farr 38 | 84 |
| Farr 38-1 | 84 |
| Farr 395 | 24 |
| Farr 40 Farr 40 The Farr 40 is a 40 foot one-design sailboat designed by Farr Yacht Design in 1996 following after the Mumm 30. It is currently built by US Watercraft... 1 ton |
69 |
| Farr 40 Farr 40 The Farr 40 is a 40 foot one-design sailboat designed by Farr Yacht Design in 1996 following after the Mumm 30. It is currently built by US Watercraft... ODR |
6 |
| Farr 42 | 66 |
| Farr 44 | 48 |
| Farr 46 | 66 |
| Farr 68 | -39 |
| Farr 727 | 192 |
| Farr 740 Sport | 162 |
NOTE: PHRF
PHRF
Performance Handicap Racing Fleet is a handicapping system used for yacht racing in North America. It allows dissimilar classes of sailboats to be raced against each other...
rating shown is the Northern California Base Rate full keel with standard mast unless otherwise described.